Thinking about getting a DNA (Use Case ?)

[Ncage1974]

My wife currently has an HTC Incredible running cyanogenmod. I am looking to get her a new phone for Christmas and she prefers to stick with android.

We hit a specific use case this weekend. It was our first time trying to use public transit system in Chicago (with the help of google transit). Of course we had to use her phone. Usually the battery life is fine and gets her through a day as long as she charges it at night she is fine. There is one day where we went out and started using the phone for navigation and i swear within 30-45 minutes that battery was down between 30-40%. I don't know if it was the gps or the screen (though it did dim somewhat). We end up having to turn the phone complety off when we hit our destination so that we could get back to our hotel.

Of course we don't want to run into this situation again. So reading the reviews on the DNA had me somewhat concerned with the reports of bad battery life.

Also there has been some reports of studdering even though the DNA has the best hardware out there now. Something that will maybe be fixed?

The phones we are considering are the S3, HD Razr Maxx, and the DNA.

 

[WuBoy]

If battery life is your main concern, there is really no beating the Razr Maxx HD at this point. If she's using an original Incredible, then all three of your options represent an upgrade that should make her happy. I'd go with the Maxx if you feel like you're going to run into a lot of situations where battery performance is key.

 

[AntimonyER]

Well I haven't seen any studdering on my DNA, but I haven't played any games either, because my two favorites don't work on it yet . Also I give the DNA the win over the GS3 in stock battery life, but you can swap it out in the GS3, so there is that to think about.

 

[Nick The Great]

I have an original DInc and am pleased with it. I don't really see how the DNA battery will be worse, will it? Assuming my usage habits stay about the same?

 

[Bearcats]

Full screen and GPS is going to chew battery regardless of phone. If you do that a lot, DNA wont cut that unless you have a charger in the car.

 

[zenman]

I'm coming from the original DINC too, and I'm very happy with the DNA's battery life. Of course my DINC's batter was 2.5 years old so that may be a factor.

The DNA may be too big for a woman's hands though. Something to consider. Like someone else mentioned, the Razr Maxx HD has the best battery life out there. I just played with it again while I was at Verizon the other day and it's a great phone, love the size, build quality, and those deep blacks on the screen!

 

[Nick The Great]

Full screen and GPS is going to chew battery regardless of phone. If you do that a lot, DNA wont cut that unless you have a charger in the car.

Well I don't usually have the GPS on unless I'm using it. I'm not paranoid, I just don't like it on . . .

I use my DInc for phone calls, occasional web browsing while at work, and GPS Nav a few times a year. I will stream Pandora time to time. Sounds like I wouldn't necessarily be disappointed. :smokingsomb:

 

[Nick The Great]

I'm coming from the original DINC too, and I'm very happy with the DNA's battery life. Of course my DINC's batter was 2.5 years old so that may be a factor.

Yeah my DInc batt has gotten much worse in the last 2 or 3 months even. I've heard it since early on when it became available

 

[Mr. Incredible]

My wife currently has an HTC Incredible running cyanogenmod. I am looking to get her a new phone for Christmas and she prefers to stick with android.

We hit a specific use case this weekend. It was our first time trying to use public transit system in Chicago (with the help of google transit). Of course we had to use her phone. Usually the battery life is fine and gets her through a day as long as she charges it at night she is fine. There is one day where we went out and started using the phone for navigation and i swear within 30-45 minutes that battery was down between 30-40%. I don't know if it was the gps or the screen (though it did dim somewhat). We end up having to turn the phone complety off when we hit our destination so that we could get back to our hotel.

Of course we don't want to run into this situation again. So reading the reviews on the DNA had me somewhat concerned with the reports of bad battery life.

Also there has been some reports of studdering even though the DNA has the best hardware out there now. Something that will maybe be fixed?

The phones we are considering are the S3, HD Razr Maxx, and the DNA.

For travel, you almost always need extra juice. If you get an S3, consider getting a 2nd battery for travel. For the DNA / Razr, consider grabbing an external battery for travel.

Screen on - GPS navigation is about the easiest way to drain the battery on your phone. GPS radio, Mobile data, wi-fi for assisted GPS and screen on the whole time.

 

[Ibrick]

How bout the RAZR M?

Smaller form factor and specs are on par with the HD and S3. I think it gets overlooked since it was marketed as a 'mid range' device, but compare it spec wise to everything but the DNA and its a tie in almost every category.

Coming from an Incredible it might be a nice compromise size wise.